Bye-Bye, Old Inefficient Light Bulb

The filament light bulb that Thomas Edison invented well over a century ago is flickering out of American households this year.

But some people won't realize that until they try to stock up and find their favorite 40- and 60-watt bulbs missing.

A ban on the manufacture and importation of those incandescent bulbs went into effect Jan. 1. Higher-wattage bulbs had already been phased out. All that will remain in stores are chandelier bulbs, three-ways and other specialty types.

The incandescent bulbs may be missed by many for their softer, cheaper-per-unit glow. Shoppers will have to learn about lumens and such now that wattage is out.

But the incandescent had to go, Congress decided in 2007, because it was an energy hog. Only about 10 percent of the energy it used went to light. The rest dissipated as heat.

Yes, compact fluorescent bulbs last longer, but they're harsher, take a while to reach full strength, and their disposal (because of the mercury vapor they contain) is an environmental headache, as we noted in Tuesday's editorial. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are pricey and throw light in one direction rather give off a 360-degree glow.

One wag noted on a Newsday story that "in America you can have single-pane windows, 20-year-old forced-air heating, no insulation and generally flimsy construction standards, but the extra energy from a light bulb is a concern." The writer has a point.

But light bulbs are easier to change than windows and walls, and the energy savings are significant. Artificial lights account for a fifth of the world's electricity consumption. More efficient lighting eases energy demands, which means less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and hopefully less worldwide damage from the resulting climate change.

So farewell, familiar bulb. Memories of your warm light will dim. And the world will be better off.